Our Landlord

**HisDaisy** · 01-14-2008, 03:43 PM

I have about had it with my landlord. My Dh and I rent small house from the local property management company and I am tired of them. They do not seem to have the ability to repair things in a timely manner. It took them 3 months to replace the outside faucet that we broken when we moved in. It took them 5 weeks fix a light that broke in the basement.
Now the washing machine broke. They sent some over to look at and he determined that it would be cheaper to replace it then repair it (It is a 1972 May Tag after all -- I think that is has had a good long life).
That was 3 weeks ago. Every week they promise me a new washer by the end of the week, but every week there is a different story. One week they told us that they could not find one in town (we live in the former home of May Tag -- at point our town was the washing machine capital of America).
Meanwhile the laundry is piling up.
I just want them to do their job in a timely manner. Is that too much to ask?

**Katybird** · 01-14-2008, 03:58 PM

No, it is not too much to ask. He would not appreciate it if you paid your rent in the manner that he repairs/replaces your items. Is it possible for you to ask him if you can purchase the washing machine and take it off of your rent next month? I hope that you get it all worked out.

**FrugalMomof3** · 01-14-2008, 05:30 PM

It definately is NOT too much to ask, I would be contacting them again if I were you and explain that things are taking much longer than they told you.

**C@rol** · 01-14-2008, 05:37 PM

Definitely not to much to ask.
Don't give up, be persistent
and document everything on
paper.

**HisDaisy** · 01-14-2008, 05:47 PM

My poor DH works around the corner from there office. He has paid several visits to there office in the last few weeks.
Today the owner promised that we would have a washer by the end of week. The maintenance man was not so sure. They are shopping around for a good deal. Next time they promise something, I will get it in writing. This is by far the worst landlord that I have had.

**ballylarkin** · 01-14-2008, 08:49 PM

Dealing with landlords is a PITA.....I've been lucky and have had mostly good ones, but the bad ones...

I hope you get to do your laundry soon!

**jamie79** · 01-14-2008, 09:18 PM

sounds to me like its time to move

**HisDaisy** · 01-14-2008, 10:38 PM

sounds to me like its time to move

I wish we could move, but we just moved to this town about 9 months ago and only hope to live here for another year. We live in a smallish town so there are not that many renal options. We choose the wrong one and now we have to live with it.
My Dh and I do not have the time to move. My DH is a newspaper reporter and works insane hours and I am trying to finish my PhD. When we moved here I did nearly all the packing and unpacking and do not wish to do that again until we get a chance to move closer to home. I also like my house, (this is the first time in nearly 15 years that I have had four outside walls to call my own.).
I just wish my landlord would get his act in gear.

**foxxyroxie** · 01-15-2008, 03:05 AM

I don't know if laws are different from state to state, but in Michigan you can withhold rent payments (documented in an account) until repairs are made. I don't know if it applies with appliances or in this case, but it's worth looking into.

**stinkbug** · 01-15-2008, 09:30 AM

I think I'd call the housing authority and see what your tenent rights are in this matter. You can also file a complaint against him since he is not supplying the appliances agreed upon in the original agreement. I think 3 weeks is way beyond being patient!

**faw42077** · 01-15-2008, 09:39 AM

Sorry you are having a hard time with your landlord.

I agree that maybe you should call housing authority or find out about your laws in your state and see if there is anything you can do to light a big ol' fire up under their butt

**miss_thrifty** · 01-15-2008, 11:05 PM

Yes Id call and find out what the rental authorties say and maybe tell the lanlors if you dont get one this weekend, we will and take it off the rent for Febuary. I wonder if its because he wants one (washer)thats way under what he thinks anything is worth around there. i know most lanlords are cheap.

**Hoosier Momma** · 01-15-2008, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by miss_thrifty

i know most lanlords are cheap.

I have to take exception to this...my stepfather has been landlord for 20+ years. He has left his house in the middle of the night to go fix hot water heaters and other broken items (and he lives 30 minutes from his nearest one); he has lost lots of $ due to people who can't pay their rent but have plenty of cash for cigarettes and beer; he is having to replace carpet he put in just a couple of months ago because the people he just evicted (after less than 2 months) have ruined it. He has probably hundreds of such stories. He's spent too much time in court trying to get money he'll never recover. He keeps his places clean and while he doesn't put top of the line appliances in his rentals, they are in good working order and he bends over backwards to fix things when they break. This is a guy who is on disability (heart condition), so this is not some weekend hobby for him...this is a job for him. And yes, he has had his share of good tenants (although he wishes there were more) and he sings their praises.

I've been a renter (for the first 5 years of our marriage until dh left the Navy), and I've had great landlords and one who was cheap and wouldn't fix a thing (thankfully dh is handy). We always left the place better than we found it because of my experience dealing with my stepfather's rentals. In the case of the landlord who wouldn't fix anything, the rep from the managing company thought we were moving IN instead of OUT when we vacated the house and she was amazed that we had left it so clean and in good repair.

**HisDaisy** · 01-16-2008, 01:11 AM

Here is an update.
I should get a new washer (or at least new to me) tomorrow morning. They would have brought it today, but they had a flat tire. I hope that are telling the truth. They had told me that they are going to do things before and not done them.

On another note I have rented for about 12 years and this first really bad landlord I have had. My last landlord was great. He would come in the middle of night if need be to fix something. I felt bad for him because he would take a chance on some of his tenants, and some them would skip out on the rent.

I guess what really makes me mad about this one, is that the maintenance staff just does not seem to care. The house was dirty when we moved in and needed several small repairs. The yard was a mess and I spent a good part of the summer working on. It looks good now. We will leave the place in better shape then it was in when we moved in.

They are supposed to shovel the sidewalks and parking area, but they rarely show up after a snowfall. When they do come they spend about 10 minutes and do a terrible job. My Dh and I end up doing the work. I wouldn't mind doing it if the lease said we were to do it, but the lease says that it is their responsibility. They are either lazy or have too much on their plates.